Scottish farming has lost its greatest friend, with the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. So this week’s edition is dedicated to her memory, with pages of tributes from the industry, and photographs from Her Majesty’s long involvement with farming and rural communities.

But while much of the normal day-today business of politics and commerce is on hold for the period of national mourning, The Scottish Farmer's news section this week catches up with some cutting-edge research warning against the wholesale conversion of grassland to arable production, concluding that in some areas, the agricultural choice is grazed livestock or regular crop failure.;

Regrettably, we must also report on another horrific dog attack on a Scottish sheep farm – and speak to the farmer whose flock has been devastated.

We also give an account of the huge industry stakeholder meeting that took place before the sad events of last week, where impatience with ScotGov’s slow progress towards a new agricultural policy prompted an industry alliance to demand a major change of tack.